Fire Permits

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Burn Permit - What You Need to Know

A County of Newell Fire Permit is Free of charge and Mandatory to have if you plan on doing any burning.

The County of Newell Bylaw 1839-15, cited as the Fire Bylaw regulates burning within the County of Newell boundaries.

Sections 16 & 20 of this bylaw states, "No person shall light an Incinerator Fire, Outdoor Fire or a Structure Fire unless he/she is the holder of a subsisting Fire Permit if required under this Bylaw or the Forest and Prairie Protection Act or both” and "No person shall light an Outdoor Fire, a Structure Fire an Incinerator Fire or a Recreational Fire Pit Fire without first taking sufficient precaution to ensure that the fire can be kept under control at all times or when the weather conditions are conducive to creating a Running Fire”.

Section #23 states, "any person who fails to hold a subsisting Fire Permit, when one is required under this Bylaw, is guilty of an offense and is liable to a fine of $200.00 on summary conviction for the first offense in any calendar year; to a fine of $400.00 on summary conviction for the second offense in any calendar year; and a fine of $600.00 on summary conviction for the third and each subsequent offense in any calendar year”.

Section #24 states, "A person who fails to comply with any provision contained in this Bylaw, except for the failure to hold a subsisting Fire Permit which is otherwise provided for under Section 23 of this Bylaw, is guilty of an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and not more than $2,500.00”.

The Forest and Prairie Protection Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000 chapter F-19, current as of December 9, 2016.

Application of Act #2 states, This Act applies to all lands within Alberta except (a) land within the boundaries of an urban municipality where there is no specific provision in this Act to the contrary and (b) land owned by the Government of Canada in respect of which the Minister has not entered into a fire control agreement.

Prohibitions #22 states, No person shall (a) light an outdoor fire without taking sufficient precautions to ensure that the fire can be kept under control at all times, (b) light an outdoor fire when any fire hazard or burning hazard is conducive to a fire readily escaping out of control, (c) fail to take reasonable steps to control a fire for the purpose of preventing it from spreading onto land other than the person’s own, (d) deposit, discard or leave any burning matter or substance in a place where it might ignite other matter and result in a fire.

False Statements #36, No person shall provide false or misleading information when information is required to be provided by that person under this Act.

Offences and penalties #37(1), a person who contravenes this Act or the regulations or fails to comply with an order under this Act or a condition of a permit issued under this Act is guilty of an offence and liable (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $50,000.00 or to imprisonment for a period of not more than one year or to both fine and imprisonment, or (b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $500,000.00.

Offences and penalties #37(2), A person who knowingly contravenes this Act or the regulations or knowingly fails to comply with an order under this Act or a condition of a permit issued under this Act is guilty of an offence and liable (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $100,000.00 or to imprisonment for a period of not more than 2 years or to both fine and imprisonment or, (b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000.00.

Fire Permits can be obtained from the County of Newell Office during business hours or from a Fire Guardian (your local area Fire Chief). Your first choice should always be the County of Newell Office. A Fire Guardian may impose conditions upon the applicant or suspend or cancel a permit at any time. A Fire Permit needs to be countersigned by a Guardian before it is valid.

Some simple burning rules are as follows:

Before lighting the fire call your local Fire Department ( a number is provided on your permit) plus 1-877-507-7011.

Have a copy of your Permit on site at all times.

Supervise the burn at all times; extinguish if conditions become hazardous or prevent control of the burn.

Keep an adequate supply of water on site at all times.

No burning at night; all fires are to be completely extinguished prior to dark.